NCC 2016 Volume Three
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Classification
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Part A1 Interpretation

Part A1 Interpretation

A1.1 Definitions

Note: States and Territories may vary or add to the definitions contained in A1.1 at the relevant State or Territory Appendix.

If a word is not defined in this Part, the meaning (if any) attributed to it under AS/NZS 3500.0 Glossary of Terms should be used unless the contrary intention appears.

Accessible means having features to enable use by people with a disability.
Administering body means the body responsible for administering the WaterMark Certification Scheme.
Alpine area means land—
  1. likely to be subject to significant snowfalls; and
  2. in New South Wales, ACT or Victoria more than 1200 m above the Australian Height Datum; and
  3. in Tasmania more than 900 m above the Australian Height Datum.
Alternative Solution means a Performance Solution.
Amenity means an attribute which contributes to the health, physical independence, comfort and well-being of people.
Approved disposal system means a system for the disposal of sewage, sullage or stormwater approved by an authority having jurisdiction.
Assessment Method means a method used for determining that a Performance Solution or Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution complies with the Performance Requirements.
Average recurrence interval applied to rainfall, means the expected or average interval between exceedances for a 5 minute duration rainfall intensity.
Blockage means an obstruction within a drainage system.
Climate zone means an area defined in Figure A1.1 and in Table A1.1 for specific locations, having energy efficiency provisions based on a range of similar climatic characteristics.

Figure A1.1 — CLIMATE ZONES FOR THERMAL DESIGN

v3_a11_2016.svg

Notes:

  1. This map can be viewed in enlargeable form on the ABCB website at www.abcb.gov.au.
  2. A Zone 4 area in South Australia, other than a council area, at an altitude greater than 300 m above the Australian Height Datum is to be considered as Zone 5.

    These areas have been defined in an enlarged format on the following maps produced by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure:

    Adelaide Hills Council Climate Zone Map

    Barossa Council Climate Zone Map

    Regional Council of Goyder Climate Zone Map

    These maps can be viewed on the Government of South Australia website at www.sa.gov.au

  3. Locations in climate zone 8 are in alpine areas.

Table A1.1 CLIMATE ZONES FOR THERMAL DESIGN - VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Location Climate Zone Location Climate Zone Location Climate Zone Location Climate Zone
Australian Capital Territory Canberra 7
New South Wales
Albury 4 Byron Bay 2 Lord Howe Island 2 Sydney West 6
Armidale 7 Cobar 4 Moree 4 Tamworth 4
Batemans Bay 6 Coffs Harbour 2 Newcastle 5 Thredbo 8
Bathurst 7 Dubbo 4 Nowra 6 Wagga Wagga 4
Bega 6 Goulburn 7 Orange 7 Williamtown 5
Bellingen Shire - Dorrigo Plateau 7 Grafton 2 Perisher Smiggins 8 Wollongong 5
Bellingen Shire - Valley & seaboard 2 Griffith 4 Port Macquarie 5 Yass 6
Bourke 4 Ivanhoe 4 Sydney East 5 Broken Hill 4
Lismore 2
Northern Territory
Alice Springs 3 Elliot 3 Renner Springs 3 Darwin 1
Katherine 1 Tennant Creek 3
Queensland
Birdsville 3 Cunnamulla 3 Maryborough 2 Toowoomba 5
Brisbane 2 Longreach 3 Mount Isa 3 Torrens Creek 3
Bundaberg 2 Gladstone 2 Normanton 1 Townsville 1
Cairns 1 Labrador 2 Rockhampton 2 Warwick 5
Cooktown 1 Mackay 2 Roma 3 Weipa 1
South Australia
Adelaide 5 Kingscote 6 Marree 4 Port Lincoln 5
Bordertown 6 Leigh Creek 5 Mount Gambier 6 Renmark 5
Ceduna 5 Lobethal 6 Murray Bridge 6 Tarcoola 4
Cook 4 Loxton 5 Oodnadatta 4 Victor Harbour 6
Elliston 5 Naracoorte 6 Port Augusta 4 Whyalla 4
Tasmania
Burnie 7 Flinders Island 7 Launceston 7 Rossarden 7
Bicheno 7 Hobart 7 New Norfolk 7 Smithton 7
Deloraine 7 Huonville 7 Oatlands 7 St Marys 7
Devonport 7 King Island 7 Orford 7 Zeehan 7
Victoria
Anglesea 6 Bright 7 Horsham 6 Swan Hill 4
Ararat 7 Colac 6 Melbourne 6 Traralgon 6
Bairnsdale 6 Dandenong 6 Mildura 4 Wangaratta 7
Ballarat 7 Echuca 4 Portland 6 Warrnambool 6
Benalla 6 Geelong Geelong Sale 6 Wodonga 6
Bendigo 6 Hamilton 7 Shepparton 4
Western Australia
Albany 6 Cocos Island 1 Kalgoorlie- Boulder 4 Port Hedland 1
Balladonia 4 Derby 1 Karratha 1 Wagin 4
Broome 1 Esperance 5 Meekatharra 4 Wyndham 1
Bunbury 5 Exmouth 1 Northam 4 Carnarvon 3
Geraldton 5 Pemberton 6 Christmas Island 1 Halls Creek 3
Perth 5
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions means provisions which are deemed to satisfy the Performance Requirements.
Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution means a method of satisfying the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
Drainage means any sanitary drainage, liquid trade waste drainage or stormwater drainage system.
Drinking water means water intended primarily for human consumption but which has other domestic uses.

Explanatory information

Explanatory Information:

See also the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Equivalent means equivalent to the level of health, safety and amenity provided by the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
Expert Judgment means the judgment of a person who has the qualifications and experience to determine whether a Performance Solution or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution complies with the Performance Requirements.

Explanatory information

Explanatory Information:

The level of qualification and/or experience required to determine whether a Performance Solution complies with the Performance Requirements may differ depending on the degree of complexity and the requirements of the regulatory authority. Practitioners should seek advice from the authority having jurisdiction for clarification as to what will be accepted.

Heated water means water that has been intentionally heated. It is normally referred to as hot water or warm water.
JAS-ANZ means the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand.
Loss means either: physical damage, financial loss or loss of amenity.
Network Utility Operator means a person who—
  1. undertakes the piped distribution of drinking water ornon-drinking water for supply; or
  2. is the operator of a sewerage system or a stormwater drainage system.

Explanatory information

Explanatory Information:

A Network Utility Operator in most States and Territories is the water and sewerage authority licensed to supply water and receive sewage and/or stormwater. The authority operates or proposes to operate a network that undertakes the distribution of water for supply and undertakes to receive sewage and/or stormwater drainage. This authority may be a licensed utility, local government body or council.

Non-drinking water means water which is not drinking water.

(Tas, On-site wastewater management system)

On-site wastewater management system means a system installed on premises that receives and/or treats wastewater generated on the premises and applies the resulting effluent to an approved disposal system or re-use system.
Overflow devices are devices that provide relief to a water service, a sanitary plumbing and drainage system or a stormwater system to avoid the likelihood of uncontrolled discharges.
Performance Requirement means a requirement which states the level of performance which a Performance Solution or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution must meet.
Performance Solution (Alternative Solution) means a method of complying with the Performance Requirements other than by a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution.
Plumbing means any water plumbing, roof plumbing, sanitary plumbing system or heating, ventilation and air-conditioning plumbing.
Plumbing or Drainage Solution means a solution which complies with the Performance Requirements and is a—
  1. Performance Solution; or
  2. Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution; or
  3. combination of (a) and (b).
Point of connection —
  1. for a heated water service means the point where the water heater connects to the cold water service downstream of the isolation valve; and
  2. for sewage disposal means the point where the on-site drainagesystem connects to the Network Utility Operator’s sewerage system or to an on-site wastewater management system; and
  3. for stormwater disposal means the point where the on-site drainagesystem connects to the Network Utility Operator’s stormwater system or to an approved disposal system; and
  4. for a water service means the point where the service pipe within the premises connects to the Network Utility Operator’s property service or to an alternative water supply system.
Product means plumbing and drainage items within the scope of the PCA including but not limited to:
  1. Materials, fixtures and components used in a plumbing or drainage installation.
  2. Appliances and equipment connected to a plumbing or drainage system.

(Tas, Professional engineer)

Professional engineer means a person who is—
  1. if legislation is applicable — a registered professional engineer in the relevant discipline who has appropriate experience and competence in the relevant field; or
  2. if legislation is not applicable—
    1. a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia; or
    2. eligible to become a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and has appropriate experience and competence in the relevant field.
Recognised certification body means a person or organisation appropriately accredited by the JAS-ANZ or one that is accepted by the authority having jurisdiction.
Recognised credentials means qualifications and experience in the area of plumbing and drainage in question recognised by the authority having jurisdiction.

(Tas, Recognised expert)

Recognised expert means a person with qualifications and experience in the area of plumbing or drainage in question recognised by the authority having jurisdiction.
Registered Testing Authority means—
  1. an organisation registered by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to test in the relevant field; or
  2. an organisation outside Australia registered by an authority recognised by NATA through a mutual recognition agreement; or
  3. an organisation recognised as being a Registered Testing Authority under legislation at the time the test was undertaken.
Renewable energy means energy that is derived from sources that are regenerated, replenished, or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted and the energy sources include, but are not limited to, solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave action and geothermal.
Required means required to satisfy a Performance Requirement or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision of the PCA as appropriate.
Small-scale Technology Certificate means a certificate issued under the Commonwealth Government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
Verification Method means a test, inspection, calculation or other method that determines whether a Performance Solution complies with the relevant Performance Requirement.
WaterMark Conformity Assessment Body (WMCAB) means a conformity assessment body registered with and accredited by the JAS-ANZ to conduct evaluations leading to product certification and contracted with the administering body to issue the WaterMark Licence.
WaterMark Certification Scheme means the ABCB scheme for certifying and authorising plumbing and drainage materials and products.
WaterMark Licence means a licence issued by a WaterMark Conformity Assessment Body.
WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products means the list maintained by the administering body of materials and products excluded from the WaterMark Certification Scheme.
WaterMark Schedule of Products means the list maintained by the administering body of materials and products included in the WaterMark Certification Scheme, and the specifications to which the materials and products can be certified.

Explanatory information

Explanatory Information:

The WaterMark Schedule of Products and the WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products can be viewed on the ABCB website at www.abcb.gov.au

Watertight means will not allow water to pass from the inside to the outside of the component or joint and vice versa.

A1.2 Adoption of Standards and other references

Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision references a document, rule, specification or provision, that adoption does not include a provision—

(a)

specifying or defining the respective rights, responsibilities or obligations as between themselves of any manufacturer, supplier or purchaser; or

(b)

specifying the responsibilities of any trades person or other building operative, architect, engineer, authority, or other person or body; or

(c)

requiring the submission for approval of any material, plumbing or drainage component, form or method of construction, to any person, authority or body other than a person or body empowered under State or Territory legislation to give that approval; or

(d)

specifying that a material, plumbing or drainage component, form or method of construction must be submitted to any person, authority or body for expression of opinion; or

(e)

permitting a departure from the PCA, rule, specification or provision at the sole discretion of the manufacturer or purchaser, or by arrangement or agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser.

A1.3 Referenced Standards, etc

(a)

A reference in a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision to a document under A1.2 refers to the edition or issue, together with any amendment listed in Table A3.1 and only so much as is relevant in the context in which the document is quoted.

(b)

Any—

(i)

reference in a document listed in Table A3.1 (primary document) to another document (secondary document); and

(ii)

subsequent references to other documents in secondary documents and those other documents,

is a reference to the secondary and other documents as they existed at the time of the primary document listed in Table A3.1

(c)

The provisions of (b) do not apply if the secondary referenced document is also a primary referenced document.

(d)

Where the PCA references a document under A1.2 which is subject to publication of a new edition or amendment not listed under Table A3.1, the new edition or amendment need not be complied with in order to comply with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

A1.4 Differences between referenced documents and the NCC

The NCC overrules in any difference arising between it and any Standard, rule, specification or provision in a document listed in Table A3.1.

A1.5 Compliance with all Performance Requirements

Subject to A1.6, plumbing and drainage systems must be so designed, constructed and installed that they comply with the relevant provisions of Section A and the Performance Requirements of this Volume.

A1.6 Application of the NCC within a particular State or Territory

For application within a particular State or Territory, this Volume of the NCC comprises—

(a)

Sections A to G (inclusive); and

(b)

the variations, deletions and additions to Sections A to G applicable to that State or Territory specified in the relevant Appendix.

A1.7 Language

(a)

A reference to a building in the NCC is a reference to an entire building or part of a building, as the case requires.

(b)

A reference to a plumbing or drainage system, or product in the PCA is a reference to an entire installation, system or product, or part of an installation, system or product, as the case requires.

(c)

A reference in a Performance Requirement of the NCC to "the degree necessary" means that consideration of all the criteria referred to in the Performance Requirement will determine the outcome appropriate to the circumstances. These words have been inserted to indicate that in certain situations it may not be necessary to incorporate any specific measures to meet the Performance Requirement.

(d)

A reference to Class 1a, 1b, 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, 9c, 10a, 10b and 10c is a reference to the separate classification.

(e)

A reference to—

(i)

Class 1 — is a reference to a Class 1a and 1b; and

(ii)

Class 7 — is a reference to a Class 7a and 7b; and

(iii)

Class 9 — is a reference to a Class 9a, 9b and 9c; and

(iv)

Class 10 — is a reference to a Class 10a, 10b and 10c.

A1.8 Explanatory information

(a)

These elements of the PCA are non-mandatory. They are used to provide additional guidance on the application of particular Parts and clauses and do not need to be followed to meet the requirements of the PCA.

(b)

Explanatory Information identified for cross-volume consideration is also provided under certain Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to identify Parts of NCC Volumes One and Two – the Building Code of Australia (BCA) which may be relevant where the plumbing or drainage work being undertaken—

(i)

may interfere with the integrity of a building element or system; or

(ii)

is subject to the requirements of the BCA.

(c)

Explanatory Information for the Performance Requirements contains both Objectives and Functional Statements. An Objective means a statement contained in the NCC which is considered to reflect community expectations. Functional Statements are statements which describe how a plumbing or drainage system achieves the Objectives. It is the ABCB’s intent that the Objectives and Functional Statements be used as an aid to the interpretation of the NCC and not for determining compliance with the NCC.

(d)

The ABCB gives no warranty or guarantee that the Explanatory Information is correct or complete. The ABCB shall not be liable for any loss howsoever caused whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of or reliance on the Explanatory Information.

(e)

The ABCB recommends that anyone seeking to rely on the Explanatory Information obtain their own independent expert advice in relation to plumbing or drainage or related activities.

Tas A1.801A1.5